THERE was a tinge of bittersweetness when Isaac Go returned from injury after a very long layoff for Barangay Ginebra.
The 29-year-old Go played his first game since September 13, 2024 last Sunday in Barangay Ginebra's win over Macau Black Knights, 110-93, to open the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
By playing on Sunday, Go ended a long wait after recovering from an ACL tear. However, his teammate could be facing the same injury when Jayson David got hurt on a non-contact play on the night he made his return.
READ: Ginebra bracing for the worst as Jason David awaits diagnosis
“Just excited to be out there,” said Go, who played 11 minutes and made up for his six misses from the field with four rebounds.
“Of course, bittersweet na because of what happened to Jayson. Just happy to be out there. Medyo gigil but it will only get better. It's been a long process,” Go said.
Isaac's inspiration
Go recognized how tough the process was, and it was important that he had a support system to help him overcome the physical and mental side of the recovery.
“It was tough. It was long… When you go through it alone, you feel like you go through it alone. But siyempre, with the help of our medical staff, my teammates, family, and everybody ‘yun eh. Just happy to be back. Pero ‘yun nga, bittersweet lang talaga,” said Go.
“We hope all the best for Jayson. Hopefully, nothing is serious,” he added.
The 6-foot-7 Go drew strength from his desire to play basketball and other players who have recovered from a similar injury to go through the long process of rehabilitation.
“We only have so much time that we can play basketball professionally,” said the former Ateneo and Gilas Pilipinas member.
“Parang ‘yun na taking advantage na knowing that iilang years lang talaga makakapaglaro. ‘Yan ‘yung goal, to return to play to the sport that we love," he continued.
“Seeing like Kevin Alas, parang three ACLs still coming back, playing at a high level na parang when you see him do it, parang why can't I do it? So parang naging inspiration siya and other athletes as well tapos nakabalik sila to their prime in their sport,” he added.
Go is eager to contribute to the Gin Kings in bringing depth to the frontcourt that got another boost when they acquired Kemark Carino from Terrafirma in a trade.
Carino is also in the final stretch of his recovery from an ACL injury, targetting a return to the court in April.
“We have Kemark coming back hopefully soon. Parang dati, people were saying, parang manipis (frontcourt) ngayon. Parang dami na kaming malaki ngayon," Go sharewd.
"So we're excited. And we know that this conference is going to be tough. You see all the other imports coming in. We'll just try our best with what Coach Tim planned for us. It's gonna be a fun one."
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